Complexity of Scott Sentences

Abstract

We give effective versions of some results on Scott sentences. We show that if $\mathcal{A}$ has a computable $\Pi_\alpha$ Scott sentence, then the orbits of all tuples are defined by formulas that are computable $\Sigma_\beta$ for some $\beta <\alpha$. (This is an effective version of a result of Montalb\'{a}n.) We show that if a countable structure $\mathcal{A}$ has a computable $\Sigma_\alpha$ Scott sentence and one that is computable $\Pi_\alpha$, then it has one that is computable $d$-$\Sigma_\beta$ for some $\beta < \alpha$. (This is an effective version of a result of A. Miller.) We also give an effective version of a result of D. Miller. Using the non-effective results of Montalb\'{a}n and A. Miller, we show that a finitely generated group has a $d$-$\Sigma_2$ Scott sentence iff the orbit of some (or every) generating tuple is defined by a $\Pi_1$ formula. Using our effective results, we show that for a computable finitely generated group, there is a computable $d$-$\Sigma_2$ Scott sentence iff the orbit of some (every) generating tuple is defined by a computable $\Pi_1$ formula.